Saturday, March 31, 2012

Today was the Smokies Family Fun Fest at Knoxville Center (mall) today. I was out in that area so I dropped by. No players, but I did make some contacts with front office type people and picked up some pocket schedules.

I was also able to get some quick photos of the Smokies' mascots, Diamond and Slugger.

Title: Negro League Legends Multi-Signed Display with Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige (PSA/DNA)Lot #: 210Description: This matted display features five monster names in African-American baseball history, led by Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige. Each player is pictured with a cut signature also included near their photo. The Robinson signature is really nice in blue steel tip pen, along with Paige in blue steel tip pen on a lined index card. Other signatures include: James "Cool Papa" Bell, Judy Johnson and Walter Buck Leonard. All signatures are authenticated by PSA/DNA with a full letter of authenticity.Opening Price: $200Current Price: $220My Thoughts:I'd probably remove the matting and make five individual pieces. You can't get a better selection of players' signatures.

Title: 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Set and Wrapper (66)Lot #:342Description: Fleer’s inaugural basketball issue is offered here in highly collectible condition, Ex to Ex-Mt, with good centering in an issue often troubled by same and a solid, consistent overall look. Perhaps a half dozen of the cards edge past Ex-Mt to Near-Mint; a similar number show centering difficulties that would typically be enough to warrant an off-center qualifier in the highest grades. Eight singles have been graded by SGC, including No. 8 Wilt Chamberlain SGC 3, No. 10 Bob Cousy SGC 5, No. 22 KC Jones SGC 5, No. 36 Oscar Robertson SGC 4, No. 38 Bill Russell SGC 5, No. 43 Jerry West SGC 5, No. 44 Len Wilkens SGC 6 and No. 62 Bill Russell (Takes to the Air) SGC 4. The breakdown: 1 Attles Very Good, 3 Baylor Very Good, 23 Jones Good, 35 Ramsay (signed), 46 Baylor In Action Nr-Mt o/c, 47 Chamberlain In Action Ex m/c, 49 Cousy In Action Ex, 61 Robertson In Action Very Good, and 66 West In Action Ex. The wrapper fits in nicely at; Ex-Mt.Opening Price: $400Current Price: $783My Thoughts: These are the cards that were produced celebrating the basketball season the year that I was born. I like the simple design and the players shown here? Wow. The mascots just give the cards that extra something special.

I probably need to contact the auction houses because I haven't been getting many catalogs lately.

Just for kicks I did some research on the origin of the term Paddy Wagon at the My Good Life blog.

I vowed not to join in any fantasy baseball this year. Too much to keep track of. I'd rather spend my time watching games and reading than wondering who is pitching and is my bullpen on the DL. I'll enjoy baseball this year.

About a week and a half ago I had the opportunity to stop by Johnson University while they were playing Lancaster Bible College. I was on the third base side and had my Blackberry in my hand. The runner came from second. I pulled up the phone and was able to take a photo through the chain link fence. Not a great photo by any means. But it proves to me that baseball is happening. Johnson won.

The 2012 Emerald Baseball Guide has been e-published. Pick up your free copy.

I haven't picked up any new baseball cards in quite some time. And I probably won't be buying any 2012 releases. Sure, they're tempting, but they don't fit in with my collecting goals. Which has had me thinking, what are my goals for this year? Oh, probably about the same as last year. Collect less broadly, add more Hershisers, share what I have with others. Also thinking of picking up some tobacco cards.

I mentioned in my nickel box post about a few magazines I picked up. 21 years ago Trading Cards was first published. An interesting mix of, well, everything.

And this is what I was looking for. The problem is that I'm not that interested in racing cards from 19 years ago. Although it is a good starting point to see what was available. To me it seems the prices were inflated then. Not much has changed.

So, I'll try to climb back on the posting horse and ride it a bit more, but now I'm off for a small buying spree at SportLots.com.

Friday, March 16, 2012

I had a few free minutes yesterday so I stopped at the local Antiques and Collectibles Mall in south Knoxvegas. I was looking for a racing collectibles magazine. I found one, but that's another post. I did find the nickel box. Let's take a look at a few.

Tony, just a few years removed from managing in Knoxville.

1981 Donruss
Tony LarRussa (card # 402)

I was able to get four of the five checklists for that set. They are unmarked and really crisp. I don't need them, I just couldn't pass them up.

1981 Donruss
Checklist #1 (card # NNO-1)

Oh, there was a mess of Nolan Ryans. A mess of them, I tell you. And I got them all. I'm putting together a trade package for a Ryan collector. The early 1990s Pacific Ryan sets are goofy. Goofy, I tell you.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

I first learned of this book at the Jerry Malloy Conference that was held in Birmingham. There was an author panel. Tim was on the panel.

I contacted Tim this week and asked for an interview. He already has answered a few questions on his site. I'd like to come up with interesting questions for the interview, so I'll ask my readers what they'd like me to ask him. Leave the interview questions in the comments. Remember, no annoying word verification here.

While you're thinking, take note of the fact that Tim's working on his third book. His first book was on Tris Speaker. In a few weeks Assignment to Hell will be published. So, after you finish reading Satch, buy Assignment to Hell. I think you'll be pleased.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

I think that I meant to scan and share these cards last month in honor of Black History Month. But I didn't. Here you go.

Toni Stone is the subject of the Martha Ackman biography, Curveball. Here are links to the NPR interview with Ackman and the Radcliffe Quarterly article. I got to meet and hear Martha Ackman a few years ago at the Jerry Malloy Conference that was held in Birmingham. Yes, I bought the book. No, I haven't yet read it.

1994 Ted Williams
Toni Stone (card # 112)

I selected the George Wilson card because the image hadn't been added to Zistle. That has been corrected. Gary Ashwill has a nice post on George Wilson.

1994 Ted Williams
George Wilson (card # 115)

Checklists sometimes get overlooked. This one is a bit dark, but the scan turned out decent. Again, another image that Zistle didn't have.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

About once a year I get cranked up and jump on my soapbox. It is time. But not a time for chastisement. A time of celebration. A time to say, "Thank you." It has been over a year since I've had the need to call any of my fellow bloggers out on using the R-Word. Thank you.

At the DSAG Buddy Walk

For those of you who are new to my blog or may not have delved deep enough into the archives, my daughter, Caroline, has Down syndrome. Down syndrome occurs when some or all of a person’s cells have an extra full or partial copy of the 21st chromosome. This additional genetic material alters the course of development.

Caroline and Edison

Caroline is in the first grade. She is mainstreamed in the public school, but does attend speech therapy. Last semester she made the honor roll. She has a great imagination and loves to read. She plays NASCAR with her Hot Wheels and blocks, will have tea parties with her dolls, has a 'boyfriend' at both school and church (yes, two different guys), the normal stuff. She likes to watch her brother, Edison, play football and she likes to imitate the cheerleaders. She doesn't like loud noises, likes routine, loves her daddy, and thinks she wants to go to church camp this summer so she can ride the zip-line. Again, the normal stuff.

Respect

Many people, from all walks of life, feel the need to use the word, retard or retarded. For me and my family it is a hurtful word. It is not necessary. I'd invite you to join with me in a show of respect and help end the use of the R-word. Jump on over to r-word.org and sign the pledge not to use it. This is not a guilt thing. This is an encouraging thing.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Michael Schecter Associates was everywhere in the 1980s. Here are two non MLB licensed issues.

The True Value cards came in panels of three with a purchase of $5 or more. Dale shared his panel with Robin Yount and Tom Seaver. There are worse guys to get paneled with, I guess. I'm thinking Buddy Bell and Bill Madlock.

1986 True Value Super Stars
Dale Murphy (card # 10)

This 1st Annual Collector's Edition was also the Last Annual Collector's Edition. A mail in set of 24 cards.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Many moons ago, my son liked to play childish games on the computer. Along came Humongous Entertainment's Backyard Baseball 2001. It was a simple, but fun game of baseball. Not very realistic, but it kept him off the streets. I probably played it as much, if not more, than he did.

Included with the game was a set of 10 baseball cards. Two game characters and eight pro players, depicted in the game as kids.

2000 Pacific Backyard Baseball
Pablo Sanchez

2000 Pacific Backyard Baseball
Cal Ripken, Jr.

2000 Pacific Backyard Baseball
Derek Jeter

2000 Pacific Backyard Baseball
Randy Johnson

The player included in this set are:

Nomar Garciaparra

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Derek Jeter

Randy Johnson

Mark McGwire

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Ivan Rodriguez

Sammy Sosa

Backyard Baseball characters included in this set are:

Vicki Kawaguchi

Pablo Sanchez

Pacific also teamed up with Humongous Entertainment to produce some Backyard Football cards in 1999. But that's another post.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Looking through my binder this morning I came across these cards, all produced by Fleer. Let's see if I can find something smarmy to say about them...

No belt, belt, belt. And teeth that only an orthodontist could love. Actually, Bowa's teeth aren't that bad.

1981 Fleer
Triple Threat (card # 645)

Hat, no hat, hat. I don't know if the photo or printing is fuzzy. I guess they were all hanging out at the Little League park that day.

1982 Fleer
Big Red Machine (card # 630)

Another hat, no hat, hat card. I see that Pete ditched Foster and Concepcion for Perez and Morgan. Glad to see that Fleer left lots of space on the back of the card for autographs. What? White space is good? Okay.

1984 Fleer
Reds Reunited (card # 636)

Tall (6' 4"), shorter (5' 10"), tallest (6' 5"). This shot was probably taken at the 1985 All-Star game in Minneapolis. Ah, the good old days when the National League won those games.